Flood Watch Expanded For Heavy Rain Across Massachusetts

Updated 2 p.m.

MASSACHUSETTS — While winter may just have ended early across Massachusetts, that will only mean the arrival of spring showers — which could include flooding rains across some parts of the state — this week.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of Massachusetts for a storm moving in late Wednesday afternoon and lasting through Thursday afternoon. A widespread 2 to as much as 3 inches of rain is expected with the storm in a relatively short time, which could cause rivers to rise near flood stage and cause water to pool in poor drainage areas.

The flood watch, which included Plymouth, Brockton and the South Shore as of Tuesday morning, was expanded Tuesday afternoon to include most of eastern and central Massachusetts — including Middlesex, Essex, Sufffolk, Norfolk and Worcester counties. Marine watches and warnings were also issued for high winds off Cape Cod and the New Hampshire and Maine coastlines.

Tuesday's storm will be more dreary than damaging with persistent drizzle and mist, occasional showers, and a high in the lower 40s. Between a quarter-inch and half-inch of rain is expected across the region.

Wednesday should be the springlike reprieve for a time with the sun breaking through in the morning into the early afternoon and temperatures soaring into the lower 60s.

But that will be short-lived as the next storm moves in late in the afternoon or early in the evening and rain becomes heavy overnight.

Thursday will be another transition day with rain in the morning turning to showers in the afternoon as temperatures remain above normal in the high 40s. Thursday will also feature a strong breeze with gusts out of the northeast topping 30 mph in eastern Mass.

Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be nicer and quite pleasant for March with the sun peeking through and temperatures rising into the upper 40s before the next storm moves in around the time the clocks leap forward overnight.

Rain is forecast to continue into Sunday with temperatures holding in the 40s.